Bellarmine Prep in San Jose names next president

Jack McLain, S.J., has been named the next president of Bellarmine College Preparatory in San Jose.

He will arrive in March and take over after the 2014-15 academic year, Bellarmine spokesman Brian Adams said.

McLain, 50, is an administrator at St. Ignatius' College Riverview and has worked at St. Aloysius' College, both in Sydney, Australia. He is a member of the Oregon Province of the Society of Jesus.

The selection was announced by Michael Engh, S.J., who is president of Santa Clara University, Bellarmine trustee and chairman of the presidential search committee.

McLain received his masters of divinity from the Weston Jesuit School of Theology at Cambridge, Mass., a bachelors of philosophy from St. Michael's Institute at Gonzaga University, and a bachelor's in radio and television broadcasting production from Washington State University. He served as an Army chaplain in the 3rd Special Forces Group and the 82nd Airborne Division.

He will succeed Paul G. Sheridan, 71, who will continue as president of Bellarmine through the 2014-15 school year. His next assignment hasn't been determined. Sheridan has led the Jesuit high school since December 2005.